Nursing at California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
91 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
91
Optimistic
91
Base Case
88
Pessimistic
Earnings $117,088/yr (56% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 41.3x earnings multiple (15.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #27 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Nursing graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,235K $1,230K $1,020K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 41.5x 41.3x 34.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 16.0x 15.9x 13.2x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 91 91 88

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,748
Out-of-state: $77,268 (15.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,948
-95% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,500
0.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$132,226
13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $117,088 per year, Nursing graduates from California State University-Monterey Bay significantly outpace the $75,273 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 41.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $5,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #27 out of 990 programs, California State University-Monterey Bay's Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $117,088 to $132,226 over five years (13% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About California State University-Monterey Bay

With 95% of applicants admitted, California State University-Monterey Bay prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 5,811 in Seaside, CA. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Monterey Bay →

Top Career Paths

Nurse anesthetists $223,210/yr
Nurse practitioners $129,210/yr
Nurse midwives $128,790/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Monterey Bay

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Monterey Bay's Nursing program score?
A score of 91/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Monterey Bay's Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Nursing careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 39% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State University-Monterey Bay rank so high for Nursing?
The #27 ranking out of 990 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →